On June 20, 1975, Jaws modified films without end. Directed by 27-year-old Steven Spielberg, the film’s troubled manufacturing led him to imagine his profession could be over. As a substitute, it turned the most important film of all time and, virtually in a single day, revolutionized the best way films have been made and distributed. It created the summer time blockbuster as audiences realize it. This yr, it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with celebrations at each Common Studios Hollywood and Florida, a efficiency at The Hollywood Bowl for Fourth of July weekend, and a current IMAX re-release, the place, even in any case this time, it managed to take the quantity two spot on the field workplace.
The Academy Museum of Movement Footage is getting in on the Jaws celebration, because it opens Jaws: The Exhibition. Operating from September 14, 2025, by means of July 26, 2026, Jaws: The Exhibition transports viewers right into a multi-gallery expertise appropriate for all ages. It takes visitors by means of varied phases of film improvement, together with pre-production, filming, and the affect of the blockbuster film. It options scene breakdowns and over 200 authentic objects, a few of which have by no means been seen by the general public, to immerse visitors in one of the vital essential movies of all time.
MovieWeb was invited to a particular press occasion earlier than the occasion’s grand opening. We walked by means of the exhibit and heard from Academy Museum Director and President Amy Homma, Senior Exhibitions Curator Jenny He, and the legendary director Steven Spielberg, in addition to a particular efficiency of the Jaws rating by the Hollywood Scoring Orchestra contained in the David Geffen Theater. Right here is our breakdown of the museum, the exhibit, and segments from a particular roundtable dialogue with Jenny He, together with phrases from Steven Spielberg himself.
Waking By a Film
“Each screenwriter that I speak to, they inform me that they begin off utilizing Jaws as their template,” mentioned Academy curator Jenny He in a roundtable that MovieWeb took half in. She known as it “an ideal screenplay,” which seemingly knowledgeable the choice to base Jaws: The Exhibition’s structure on the movie’s narrative. “We wished to inform the total story in regards to the manufacturing of Jaws and the way it was made. What we have finished within the exhibition is to let you know these tales as they’re motivated by the movie’s narrative,” mentioned Jenny He.
As visitors stroll by means of the large exhibit that occupies everything of the Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery, movie scenes are utilized in tandem with the event cycle of constructing a film. This contains pre-production info on the backdrop of the movie’s opening, the place Chrissie Watkins is attacked, to the dying of Alex Kipner, which is used to clarify particular digicam particulars and even permits visitors to recreate the long-lasting dolly zoom impact. Relating to highlighting the movie’s cinematography, Jenny He mentioned:
“The truth that we will present the precise underwater digicam is de facto particular. It has been on view in Panavision so we knew it was there, but it surely has by no means earlier than been on public show, so it was actually nice that Panavision allowed us to take it from their workplace, which is among the highlights of their workplace tour, and allowed us to borrow it throughout the exhibition. Our Panaflex is identical mannequin that was used on Jaws, however it’s not the digicam that was used on Jaws; it’s the digicam that was used on Star Wars in 1977. We do have the precise zoom lens that was used to make that dolly zoom shot and borrowed that from Panavision as properly”
Top-of-the-line options is the place followers can stroll by means of the movie’s climactic third act. The exhibit includes a recreation of Quint’s ship, The Orca, together with a photograph alternative contained in the ship’s inside, the place followers can sit (sharing tales about scars is optionally available). Subsequent to The Orca is a remote-control mechanical shark that visitors can experiment with, showcasing the restricted mobility the filmmakers had when working “Bruce” (the shark was named after Steven Spielberg’s lawyer, Bruce Ramer). There’s additionally an interactive show that permits visitors to play the long-lasting keys of the Jaws theme themselves. Even for younger followers who might by no means have seen Jaws, these interactive reveals would possibly ignite their curiosity in regards to the 50-year-old traditional. In the meantime, for long-time followers, it’s a dream come true.
The varied exhibitions characteristic as much as 200 authentic objects related to the movie. Some have been donated by Steven Spielberg himself from his personal private collections, in addition to the Amblin Fireside Archive, the NBC Common Archives & collections, and the Academy’s personal assortment. The Academy tracked down a number of objects from the unique manufacturing that have been donated to the museum by followers of the film. Over time, these followers have made pilgrimages to Martha’s Winery, the place Jaws was shot, to gather objects related to the movie. Spielberg commented on the foresight of everybody however himself relating to Jaws, noting how it’s wonderful that a few of these props had been held onto for years. Talking to a crowd of journalists, Spielberg mentioned:
“I imply, why would anyone, after we shot the opening scene of Chrissie Watkins being taken by the shark, and we had a buoy floating within the water, how did anybody know to take the buoy house and sit on it for 50 years and mortgage it to the Academy? How did they know? I did not even know, I assumed my profession was just about over midway by means of manufacturing on Jaws as a result of everybody was saying to me, ‘you might be by no means going to get employed once more’.”
Not solely can followers see the costumes worn within the movie, however they’ll additionally see recreations of iconic props, such because the Amity Island signal, and a few of the technical marvels behind the scenes. The exhibition options authentic objects, together with a classic Moviola enhancing machine utilized by the legendary Verna Fields, the unique Zanuck/Brown Productions signal displayed outdoors the Jaws manufacturing workplace in Martha’s Winery, and handwritten screenplay notes from Steven Spielberg.
The ultimate phase, “The Enduring Impression of Jaws,” takes viewers right into a celebration of the movie. From an enormous array of merchandise spanning from the film’s preliminary launch to the current day, varied article headlines highlighting the movie’s field workplace efficiency, and unimaginable posters from around the globe. Jaws is definitely one of the vital iconic films of all time, as seen in a particular video montage that performs close to the top, that includes the quite a few occasions the film has been referenced in different movies, from Clerks to Rugrats Go Wild.
Some of the vital impacts of Jaws is undoubtedly on the profession of Steven Spielberg. It will take far too lengthy to record his many accomplishments and the varied components of the movie and tv business wherein he has been concerned, each as a director and, much more so, as a producer. If it weren’t for Jaws, followers seemingly would not have Raiders of the Misplaced Ark, E.T. The Additional Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Schindler’s Listing, Saving Non-public Ryan, Catch Me if You Can, or The Fabelmans. “I am very pleased with the film. The movie definitely value me a pound of flesh however gave me a ton of profession,” mentioned Spielberg. “The success of the film gave me the possibility to make any film I wished to make after that.”
The Legacy of ‘Jaws’
For the reason that Academy Museum of Movement Image Arts and Sciences opened in 2021, it has hosted many unimaginable exhibitions. From highlighting the works of Hayao Miyazaki to Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971, and not too long ago Cyberpunk: Envisioning Attainable Futures, there was no scarcity of fantastical and informative reveals. But Jaws: The Exhibition marks the primary time {that a} single film has had a whole piece devoted simply to it.
It appears the thought of an exhibit devoted to Jaws has been years within the making, one which was born out of one of many Museum’s signature items and unofficial mascot, the hanging prop of Bruce the Shark. “We have had Bruce the Shark on view since we opened. The fiftieth anniversary is arising; that is the proper time to increase and make an exhibition associated to Jaws,” mentioned Jenny He.
Whereas Jaws is the primary present for now, followers can look ahead to extra Spielberg movies sooner or later. Introduced to the press on the occasion, Amy Homma, Director and President of the Academy Museum of Movement Footage, revealed {that a} Steven Spielberg Retrospective Exhibition was coming to the museum in 2028.
“This exhibition is not going to solely honor the simple legacy of Steven Spielberg, however it would additionally give guests perception into his artistic course of and produce them nearer than ever to his filmography. We will not wait to share extra about this wonderful new exhibition, and we’re so grateful for his partnership that permits us to totally have a good time cinema.”
Although Steven Spielberg is likely to be the most important title on the decision sheet, the director definitely remembers all of the individuals who helped deliver Jaws to the massive display screen. Following his entrance, Spielberg requested two members of the orchestra, conductor Richard Kaufman and cello participant Dennis Karmazyn, to take a bow. Each Kaufman and Karmazyn have been a part of the unique recording session for Jaws, carried out below the route of John Williams.
Regardless of the numerous challenges of constructing Jaws — together with going over funds and schedule, quite a few technical difficulties, and lengthy hours at sea — Spielberg recalled, “I’ve by no means seen a lot vomit in my life. Within the six months out to sea, I’ve by no means seen so many individuals getting sick.”
But on the finish of the day, what received him and everybody by means of the tough manufacturing was one another. Collectively they made a traditional whose making is simply as thrilling because the film itself. Wanting again on the movie, and ahead to the opening of the Museum exhibit, Spielberg mentioned:
“What received us by means of it was being within the firm of one another. That was the important thing that received us by means of it. The camaraderie that occurs when you’re simply attempting to outlive one thing. It introduced all of us nearer collectively. I’ve by no means been nearer with a crew or a solid till a few years later. This was the final word instance that once you work as a staff that you may truly get the ball throughout the end line, and we did… I am so pleased with the work they’ve [The Academy Museum] finished. The exhibition is simply superior. Each room has the minute element of how this image received collectively, and it proves that the movement image business actually is a collaborative artwork kind. No place for auteurs. That is an artwork kind that solely survives by getting the most effective folks in all the appropriate positions. It’s a collaborative medium and I am proud to be a part of it.”
All of this — the landmark film, the summer time blockbuster season, and the Academy Exhibit — virtually did not occur. Spielberg revealed to the viewers that the film practically received canceled, saying:
“I used to be provided quite a few occasions to gracefully bow out. Not to get replaced by one other filmmaker, however for the movie to be shut down.”
Fortunately for everybody, he did not. As a result of if he had, the world would have been denied one of many biggest films ever made.